Gong



Aug. 25. 1925., 1,551,111

` E. MERRILL GONG Filed April 13 1922 W70/Mfrs.

titi. SitdtttLS da litlCtl-it Patented ug.. 25, i925,

SIDNEY B. MERRILL, OF CINCINNATI, OHI, ASSGNOR TO THE E. Vf. DUZEN SGM- PANY, OF CINCINNATI, OI-IO, A CORPORATON F (EHU,

GONG..

Application led April 13, 1922.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, SIDNEY B, MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Uhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gongs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to gongs and more particularly to foot gongs, such as are used in street cars, ambulances, traveling cranes, and the like.

In devices of the said character the desirable features are quick and easy operation and possibility of rapid tapping of the gong witho-ut the striking mechanism becoming blocked and with suiiicient force to bring out a full, clear tone.

It is the object of my invention to provide a structure which lives up to all the above requisites and which also is extremely simple in construction and mode oi operation.

In its essence my invention consists in a gong, a spring strap carrying` a striker or hammer, and a plunger resting normally on the strap. The mechanism, while apparently extremely elemental. embodies in addition to the parts noted the careful placing of the plunger and hammer. otherwise the mechanism would not satisfy the requirements.

I accomplish my objects by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is `a central vertical section through the device, as mounted in a floor.

Figure 2 is a like view showing; the position of the parts when the plunger is de* pressed.

As shown, the gong is mounted beneath a Hoor board 1. On top of the board is set a plate 2 having an aperture for the mounting bolt 3 and a properly spaced aperture for the plunger shaft 4t. There are two nuts 5 and 6, one set on the bolt inside the gong and one on the outside between it and the -Hoor board.

The gong 7 is thus held fast on the bolt and up against the floor.

ser-iai no. 552,385.

Mounted on the top of the gong, which is side of the hammer will not contact with they gong.

ln striking a gong properly the striker should engage the edge of the gong and spring` away immediately after the striking of said edge, so as to leave the gong free to vibrate.

lt thus arrange the spring band so that when depressed by the plunger, the hammer will strike the edge of the gong.

The plunger is so arranged that it rests on the band at all times, but that when fully depressed so as to move the spring strip almost into contact or even into Contact with the top of the gong, this action will brins: the strip to such a position that it will hold the hammer a small fraction of an inch away from the edge of the bell.

The act of treading on: the plunger and suddenly throwing down the spring strip will thus be to force the hammer to strike the bell, but to permit it to spring away slightly once the blow is hit.

Furthermore, the shape of the hammer. length of strip and position of plunger must be such that the act of forcing the hand to contact with the top of the gong will just bring the hammer to the position outlined.

ln arranging` any size of bell with any shape of spring strip, the part-s should be mounted up and the strip pressed down as far out as possible against the top of the gong, without disturbing` vibration, and the hammer then arranged so that it will lie just away from the edge of the gong. The aperture in the plate 2 for the plunger is then properly determined so that the plunger will take a position just above the point of contact of the sprina' strip with the top of the gong. This position will then control thespacing of the holes in the top plate 2, so that no mistake can be made in installation.

It will be noted that extreme simplicity of parts is provided by this device, and that it will operate as fast as the plunger can be depressed and the band fly back.

lf the arrangement of Jche parts were to be varied, then either the hammer would tend to rest against the gong and mulile the vibration, or the down stroke of the plunger would require excessive force to make the hammer strike the edge oit' the gong, so that unless care were taken to give just the right blow to the plunger, there would be a failure of the gong to sound.

Having thus described my invention, Wha-t I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A sounder comprising a gong member, a mounting bolt therefor, a spring strip held by the mounting bolt, a plunger of a length when lull)7 depressed adapted to press the strip toward the top of the gong, and a hammer on the strip adapted to lie just off of the gong when the stripv is so depressed, and a member for mounting the gong with an orifice for the bolt and an orifice for the plunger extending through said member.

SIDNEY B. MERRILL. 

